Frequently Asked Questions
of the Circuit Clerk's Office

TRAFFIC RELATED

WHAT DO I OWE ON MY TICKET(S)?

With ticket(s) in hand, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A TICKET AMENDED?

Your attorney must contact the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

I NEED TO GET A CONTINUANCE ON A TICKET, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

With ticket(s) in hand, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance.

If the ticket was transferred from the Fine and Collection Center, one continuance is allowed but a Written Entry of Appearance from an attorney is required before a new date will be given. If the ticket did not come from the FCC, one continuance is allowed.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT FOR ME. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IT’S FOR?

Contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for information regarding the charges.

To satisfy the warrant, you may surrender yourself to the Lafayette County Jail where you will have an opportunity to post a bond and receive a court date.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A HARDSHIP LICENSE?

Contact an attorney. The petition will be filed in the Circuit Clerk’s office.

I RECEIVED A TICKET AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY COURT DATE IS?

With ticket(s) in hand, access case.net at www.courts.mo.gov or contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance. It takes about 3 weeks for tickets to be filed after they are written.

HOW CAN I CHECK THE STATUS OF MY TICKET(S)?

I NEVER RECEIVED MY COMPLIANCE NOTICE AFTER SENDING IN A WRITTEN GUILTY PLEA. HOW CAN I GET ONE?

With ticket(s) in hand, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance. 660-259-6101

I LOST MY TICKET AND WANT TO PLEAD GUILTY. DO I NEED A SPECIAL FORM?

No, a written guilty plea can be on a blank piece of paper. Please include the ticket number(s), your statement of guilt, a current mailing address and telephone number. Include the ticket number(s) on the money order as well. Mail your guilty plea with money order for payment in full to the Circuit Clerk's Office - PO Box 10, Lexington, MO 64067. PARTIAL PAYMENTS WILL BE RETURNED. Some traffice violations may be paid by using the Pay By Web option. Most traffic violations can be disposed of by phone with a credit card payment. Call 660-259-6101 for assistance.

I RECEIVED A TICKET FROM A CITY POLICE OFFICER. DO I PAY FOR IT AT YOUR OFFICE?

You must pay the fine and costs at the Circuit Clerk’s Office if the ticket was written from Alma, Corder, Emma, LakeLafayette, Mayview, Napoleon or Wellington. All other municipal infractions should be paid at their respective City Hall offices.

DO I HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR MY TICKET OR CAN I JUST PAY IT?

The following citations carry mandatory court appearances: NO INSURANCE, C & I w/ACCIDENT, SPEEDING OVER LIMIT BY 26 MPH, DEFENDANT IS UNDER AGE 16, or any infraction associated with misdemeanors or felonies. All other infractions can be resolved without a court appearance.

I JUST GOT A TICKET YESTERDAY. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO BE?

We cannot assist people with fines and costs until the ticket has actually been filed. It takes about 3 weeks for tickets to be filed after they are written. We recommend you access case.net at www.courts.mo.gov periodically to determine when the ticket is filed with the Circuit Clerk’s Office.

CAN I GO AHEAD AND PAY MY TICKET WITH A CREDIT CARD AND FAX THE GUILTY PLEA TO YOU LATER?

Fines & costs on ticket citations may be paid by most major credit cards without filing a guilty plea. Call the Circuit Clerk's Office 660-259-6101 for assistance.

GENERAL THINGS TO KNOW - TRAFFIC RELATED

In order to have a ticket amended, your attorney must contact the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

FCC tickets CANNOT BE CONTINUED without an attorney filing an Entry of Appearance first.

Regular tickets can be continued once, but always to the officer’s next court date.

Regular tickets take about 3 weeks from the date they are written before they are filed with us. FCC tickets take approximately the same amount of time after being mailed to the PA’s office.

We cannot assist with the calculation of fine and costs without the benefit of having the ticket filed first.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - CRIMINAL

CAN YOU TELL ME THE BOND AMOUNT ON A WARRANT?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access the case.net docket entry tab at www.courts.mo.gov
Bond allowances will be detailed in the text field.

CAN I POST MY BOND AT YOUR OFFICE?

You must surrender yourself to the jail or the nearest law enforcement agency where the required fingerprinting can occur.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ON CASE NUMBER . . . . OR ON SO AND SO’S CASE?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access case.net at www.courts.mo.gov for information.

I NEED A LETTER OF INCARCERATION

Please contact the Lafayette County Jail at 660-259-6682.

HOW DO I OBTAIN A CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORT

Contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 573-526-6153 or 573-751-3313.

HOW CAN I GET MY BOND REDUCED?

You must consult an attorney.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FINANCIAL

WHAT DO I OWE ON COURT COSTS?

Please contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance. We ask that you have your case number readily available.

WHAT CREDIT CARDS DO YOU ACCEPT?

VISA or MasterCard Discover and American Express

WILL YOU TAKE A PERSONAL CHECK?

The account holder must reside in Lafayette County or the account holder must be the attorney of record.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - CIVIL and GENERAL INFORMATION

I FORGOT MY COURT DATE, WHO SHOULD I CALL?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access case.net.

I NEED TO GIVE YOU MY NEW ADDRESS.

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office by telephone, 660-259-6101, regular mail or e-mail with your new address. Please include a few remarks about the reason why you need it updated. For example, are you receiving or paying child support, are you currently on Court Supervised Probation, or do you have a pending action on file?

WHAT IS YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS?

Lafayette Hall, 116 S. 10th St, Lexington, MO 64067

WHAT IS YOUR FAX NUMBER?

660-259-6148

WHAT ARE YOUR FILING FEES?

Please access the Payment/Deposit link for filing and service fee information or call the Circuit Clerk's Office for assistance at 660-259-6101.

I NEED TO FILE A CHILD PROTECTION/ADULT PROTECTION PETITION

This is a pro se process. Please access the Court Forms link at www.courts.mo.gov and select the appropriate form category. Once the forms are completed, they must be presented to Circuit Clerk’s office in person.

HOW CAN I GET A JUDGMENT AGAINST SOMEONE?

We can provide small claims and landlord petitions to pro se applicants. However it is recommended that Associate and Circuit civil petitions be prepared by attorneys. Access the Court Forms link and select Small Claims Forms.

HOW CAN I COLLECT ON THE JUDGMENT IN MY FAVOR?

You may file an Application for an Execution or Garnishment with the Circuit Clerk’s office, but you will need to know the judgment debtor’s employer or bank account information to begin. Access the Execution/Garnishment link.

WHERE CAN I INITIATE AN EXECUTION/GARNISHMENT?

Execution or Garnishment requests are filed with the Circuit Clerk’s office. Access the Execution/Garnishment link to print the execution or garnishment form, interrogatory form and instructions. Pro se filers will be required to proivde the $10.00 surcharge and Service Fee upon filing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - JURY

I RECEIVED A REMINDER CARD BUT DIDN’T GET A JURY QUESTIONNAIRE.

Please contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 660-259-6101 and ask for a questionnaire to be mailed to you.